Best Tricks for Dogs With Separation Anxiety: Vet-Informed Tips

You arrive home to find a torn-up couch cushion, or a neighbor says that your dog barked for an hour after you left. Separation distress may seem like your dog is making a point, but it's often just fear. Separation-related behaviors include excessive barking, destructive behavior, pacing, house-soiling, and escape attempts.

The best tricks for dogs with separation anxiety involve changing your dog's reaction to being alone. Instead of looking for quick fixes, teach your dog to be alone by reinforcing calming and confident behaviors before they escalate into a full-blown panic attack. This often involves very brief training sessions, then gradually increasing the duration.

Key Takeaways

• Separation anxiety causes genuine distress in some dogs; therefore, punishment is more likely to have an adverse worsening effect on an already fearful pup.
  
• One of the primary evidence-based behavior modification techniques for canine separation anxiety is systematic desensitization.
  
• Start with absences brief enough to keep your dog calm, then slowly increase the duration.
  
• You can supplement the training program by exercising, mental stimulation, puzzle toys, a comfortable environment, and professional support.
  
• Your dog can take weeks or months to get better, especially if separation anxiety is severe.
  
• If your dog panics, injures itself, or can't cope, even with brief separations, consult your vet or a veterinary behaviorist.
  

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What Dog Separation Anxiety Really Looks Like

Separation anxiety occurs when you leave your dog alone or separate them from their favorite person. If your dog is bored, they might chew on things in the house to keep them engaged. An anxious dog may claw at the front door, tear up a window frame, pace, whine, or attempt to escape. Symptoms of separation anxiety tend to start shortly after you've left your dog alone.

You also need to rule out other possibilities. Some behavioral issues can be similar as a result of incomplete house training, confinement anxiety, outside noises, health issues, and normal puppy behavior. If your dog's behavior suddenly shifts, especially later in life, consult your vet to rule out any underlying health conditions. Read our guide on how to tell if your dog is sick for more insights on potential underlying issues.

Some dogs are more susceptible to separation-anxiety disorders than others. Research by Sargisson (2014), published in Veterinary Medicine Research and Reports, found that these behavioral issues are more frequent in dogs adopted from a shelter or found as strays than those bred by a family, friend, or breeder. 

Dogs separated from their litter before sixty days may also face a higher risk of separation-related problem behaviors, especially those from pet shops. The research also reported that separation-related problems are more common in male dogs than female dogs. However, these risk factors don't determine what will happen to every dog. Look for the following symptoms.

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Symptoms of Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Look for a pattern of separation anxiety-related behaviors when you prepare to leave or after you leave your dog alone, such as:

• Howling, whining, or excessive barking after leaving.
  
• Destruction of doors, windows, or any means of exiting a room or building.
  
• Accidental house soiling even in house-trained dogs.
  
• Constantly moving around, drooling, panting, or licking lips.
  
• Running around and escape attempts that can damage nails, teeth, or paws.
  
• Refusing food or ignoring a toy filled with food when alone.
  

Some anxious or highly attached dogs show signs of distress even while you’re still at home. These behaviors don't necessarily mean a dog has separation anxiety, but they're worth noticing. Signs to look for include:

• Following you closely from room to room, even waiting outside the bathroom door.
  
• Becoming restless or distressed when you move out of sight.
  
• Struggling to settle or relax unless they’re close to you.
  
• Constantly seeking your attention or physical contact.
  
• Watching you closely as you move around the house.
  
• Becoming anxious when you pick up your keys, put on your shoes, grab a bag, or perform other routines associated with leaving.
  

If your dog exhibits one of these behaviors, it doesn’t necessarily indicate they’re suffering from separation anxiety. Watch the timing, the triggers, and whether multiple signs happen at once. A camera can help you view your dog's behavior when no one is around.

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The Best Tricks to Help an Anxious Dog With Separation Anxiety

These techniques work best when used together as part of the same training program. The goal is to help your dog reach a mental state where they overcome fear and slowly change their emotional reaction to being alone.

1. Start With Very Short Periods and Gradually Increase Them

One of the primary treatment methods for separation anxiety is systematic desensitization. You play with your dog, expose them to a very mild version of the trigger (your absence), and return before they become distressed. Over time, you can slowly increase the time you're away.

The starting point can be a minute for one dog. For another, it may take just a few seconds. Go through the front door and come back when your dog is still calm. When the dog responds comfortably and consistently, increase the duration of your absence.

Don’t transition from a couple of seconds to one minute and then 5 minutes. Follow your dog's lead. Reduce the duration of the absence by half when you notice pacing, panting, vocalizing, lip licking, freezing, or any other sign of stress.

Keep training sessions short, two per day, instead of drilling your pup repeatedly. Some separation-anxiety training programs use a one-session-a-day schedule; others may use two short sessions if the dog is coping. There’s no set rule, and not all dogs can manage two sessions every day, so consult a dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist for suggestions on which schedule to use and when. Be patient and use lots of positive reinforcement, be it praise, treats, or playtime.

2. Train Your Dog's Departure Cues

For some dogs, anxiety starts before their owner even walks out the door. Any departure cues can be keys jingling, the shoes going on, a work bag appearing, or a hand reaching for the front door.

Practice these actions when you're staying home. Pick up your keys and put them back down. Put on your shoes and sit on the sofa. Open and close the door without leaving. The idea is to break the association between the cues and the long absence.

Keep actual departures and arrivals calm as well. You don't need to make leaving or returning home into a big deal. Establish a daily routine to help both you and your dog treat the event as an ordinary part of the day.

3. Give Your Dog a Special Food-Stuffed Toy or Puzzle

In cases of mild separation anxiety, counterconditioning can help alter the significance of the dog's experience of being alone. Spend time with your dog before you leave, then give them a high-value food-stuffed toy, puzzle toy, or safe long-lasting treat around the time you're getting ready. Keep that special reward for when you want to leave to make it a favorite.

Observe if your dog eats the food when you’re away. Even a dog's favorite treat may be too much for them when they're stressed. However, don't assume the toy has failed if this occurs. It may show you that your dog found the absence unbearable.

4. Build Your Dog's Independence at Home

If your dog follows you from room to room, start practicing a few minutes of separation at home. While walking around the room, encourage your dog to lie down on a bed or mat, and reward them if they stay settled.

You can also set up a baby gate to give your dog a little bit of space, but not too much. Go to the kitchen while your dog remains on the other side, or hide briefly behind the bathroom door and then come back. Don’t restrict physical contact or affection, as this will make your dog less attached to you. The idea is to promote independence without stopping the interaction with your dog, who enjoys being close to you.

5. Exercise and Mental Stimulation

Before you leave, meet your dog's physical needs with a suitable walk or play session. Provide mental stimulation by playing with sniffing games, puzzle toys, or a brief positive reinforcement training activity.

While exercise won't cure your dog's separation anxiety, it can help your dog relax when their normal physical and behavioral needs are met. This will depend on individual dogs, their age, health, breed, and other factors. Bigger dogs don't always require more exercise than smaller dogs. Consider what works best for your dog to help you determine the average walk length or exercise intensity. Read our guide on how long a good walk should be to help you determine what suits your dog.

6. Create a Safe and Comfortable Environment

Let your dog have access to something they feel comfortable with. This could be a bed in a quiet room, or an open or properly used crate if your dog truly loves their crate.

For some dogs, crate training will help ease the settling process, but a crate isn’t a cure for separation anxiety. Don't force your dog into a crate. Dogs with confinement anxiety will get more upset and can injure themselves trying to get out of the crate.

Background noise can also mask outside sounds, and familiar bedding can make their resting space feel cozy. Pay attention to what puts your dog at ease, because most dogs enjoy snug areas.

7. Use Calming Aids Wisely

Some pet parents choose to combine behavior modification with pheromone products, such as anxiety wraps or calming supplements. Don’t use these products as a substitute for a structured training plan, since they may work differently for different dogs.

If you want to give your dog a calming supplement, check the ingredients and consult your veterinarian, especially if they’re on medication or have a medical condition. Use calming products as aids to help, not cure, extreme separation anxiety.

A supplement must complement the overall training program, not replace behavior modification. If your dog is nervous, consider our range of the best products for anxious dogs. It includes supplements that support different aspects of your pup's wellbeing, including digestion, physical comfort, mental stimulation, and daily routines.

8. Prevent Long Absences While You're Training

A dog's ability to learn and change behavior may be harder when you leave them alone for long periods. If you can, schedule time so your dog doesn't have to be alone for longer than they can handle right now.

While planning your training plan, find a trusted family member, dog walker, sitter, or appropriate daycare program when you're busy, so your pup is never truly left alone. If you have two dogs, the other dog may be a comfort, but don't assume getting a second dog will solve the problem. Separation anxiety can focus on the absence of a specific person, which means another pet isn't a reliable solution.

9. Be Consistent and Patient

There are no guaranteed overnight solutions for dogs with separation anxiety. Systematic desensitization can take weeks or months, as each increment depends on the dog's tolerance.

Watch your dog's behavior during training and adjust your approach as needed. If the dog takes a step backward when coping with longer periods of separation, make the time even shorter until the dog returns to moving forward.

Most importantly, don’t punish unwanted behaviors related to separation anxiety. You'll notice something is wrong with your dog when a damaged door, accident, or barking incident occurs. Punishing them after getting back from your absence won't help them feel safe the next time you’re gone, and could increase their anxiety.

If your dog's anxiety is severe, talk to your vet instead of using an over-the-counter remedy. Severe cases of separation anxiety need professional behavior support, while others need prescription medication.

What Not to Do About Your Dog's Separation Anxiety

The following common methods can cause issues:

• Don’t punish your dog for separation anxiety-related behaviors. Scolding them for an accident, destructive behavior, or barking won’t address the underlying fear and can add to your dog’s anxiety.
  
• Don't use long absences to make your dog "get used to it." The idea behind systematic desensitization is to expose the dog to a level that’s below their panic threshold and then increase alone time slowly over time. Keeping a frightened dog separated for long periods may make the situation harder to treat.
  
• Don’t think the idea of getting another dog is a solution for separation anxiety. Another pet can be a companion, but separation anxiety can continue, as the trigger is the absence of a specific person.
  
• Don't rely on a TV, puzzle toy, or supplement to do the training for you. You can use these tools for management or enrichment, but they can't replace behavior modification.
  

When You Should See a Vet or Behaviorist

Some behavior problems need professional help. Talk to your veterinarian if your dog:

• Works itself up into such a panicked frenzy that it could hurt itself trying to escape.
  
• Exhibits severe destructive behavior or repeatedly soils the house when alone.
  
• Remains so distressed that you literally can’t leave your dog alone for even a short period without extreme consequences, and then you have no life because it revolves around your dog not harming itself or your home.
  

Your veterinarian can rule out medical problems and discuss medication when appropriate. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved fluoxetine and clomipramine to treat dog separation anxiety alongside a behavior modification plan. Fluoxetine can reduce separation-related behaviors in dogs, while clomipramine is another established option.

According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, clomipramine may be prescribed for dogs in certain circumstances, but only a veterinarian should determine the dose and whether or not this drug is suitable for your dog. Just like with any medication, notwithstanding behavior-altering drugs, clomipramine and fluoxetine can cause side effects. These can include altered appetite, sleepiness, stomach discomfort, agitation, and other adverse effects, depending on the medication.

Some vets also use other medications off-label in selected cases. Gabapentin, for example, may provide shorter-term situational relief, while amitriptyline is used for some canine anxiety and behavioral problems. Medication choices depend on the individual dog, so don't give your dog prescription medication without veterinary guidance.

Your veterinarian can also refer you to a board-certified veterinary behaviorist or other qualified experts who can create a behavior modification program based on your dog's specific trigger(s) and temperament. In some dogs, medication reduces the anxiety to a level where training methods begin to work.

How to Prevent a Dog From Developing Separation Anxiety

Gradually introduce alone time when you have a puppy or newly adopted dog, rather than abruptly changing from having them always by your side to spending a lot of time apart. Fewer routine disruptions and regular, manageable absences may minimize the likelihood of separation-related issues. Any sudden deviations from the norm, or an increase or decrease in time alone, can cause or intensify these behaviors in some dogs.

Try short-term separation training exercises until your dog is comfortable; give your dog lots of enrichment; praise your dog when they settle on their own. When changing their routine, it’s best to make the change slowly.

These habits can't guarantee that a dog will never develop separation anxiety. Separation anxiety can be due to an early experience, a change in the household, or the dog's temperament. But if your dog learns that your absence for brief periods is normal and that you’ll be returning, it can benefit you and your dog’s
 quality of life.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the Best Anxiety Relief for Dogs?

The best approach depends on the cause and severity of your dog's anxiety. For separation anxiety, gradual desensitization and counterconditioning can teach your dog to associate alone time with positive experiences. Exercise, mental stimulation, and calming aids such as pheromone diffusers may also help. Dogs with severe separation anxiety may need medication alongside training.

Can Separation Anxiety in Dogs Go Away on Its Own?

Separation anxiety usually needs active treatment and most likely won’t simply go away with time. Consistent training can help your dog feel safer alone and gradually cope with longer absences. Some dogs improve significantly with behavior modification, while others need ongoing management or veterinary support. There are no reliable quick fixes.

Which Dog Breeds Have Low Separation Anxiety?

No dog breed is guaranteed to have low separation anxiety. Temperament, early experiences, routine, and individual personality can influence how a dog responds to being alone. Even breeds considered more independent, such as Basenjis, Shiba Inus, and Chow Chows, can develop behavior problems, so it's better to consider the individual dog rather than rely on breed alone.

How Do I Know if My Dog Has Separation Anxiety or Is Just Bored?

Dogs with separation anxiety usually show signs of distress soon after you leave, such as pacing, excessive barking, panting, house-soiling, escape attempts, or destructive behavior around doors and windows. A bored dog may chew or get into trouble without showing the same level of emotional distress. Set up a home camera to help you see how your dog behaves when you're away.

Should I Leave the TV on for a Dog With Separation Anxiety?

Background sound may help some dogs feel more comfortable and mask noises outside. However, leaving the TV or radio on won't treat separation anxiety. Use it as a supporting tool alongside training, exercise, and other management strategies. If long absences cause distress, a sitter or suitable doggy daycare may also help while you work on the underlying anxiety.

Ending Note

Helping a dog with separation anxiety takes patience and consistency. Start with short, manageable absences and gradually increase the time as your dog learns that being alone is safe. Regular exercise, mental stimulation, a comfortable space, calming support, and low-key departures can all support that training.

Watch your dog's progress, and talk to your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist if their distress is severe or not improving. Separation anxiety comes from genuine distress, not bad behavior. With the right support and a training plan based on your dog's individual needs, you can help them feel safer and more comfortable when you're away.

References

• ASPCA. (2024). Separation anxiety. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
• Humane World for Animals. (2024). Dogs with separation anxiety. Humane World for Animals (formerly The Humane Society of the United States).
• Sargisson, R. J. (2014). Canine separation anxiety: Strategies for treatment and management. Veterinary Medicine: Research and Reports, 5, 143–151.